Viewed in
2012
Formats
HDTV
Premise
A bullied young boy befriends a new neighbor girl, who happens to be a vampire.
Loved
Deliberate visual style, unforgettable characters.
Liked
Story grounded in realism.
Disliked
The ending.
Thoughts
What a lovely, poetic film, full of character and heart.
I didn't realize until the credits that it directed by Tomas Alfredson, whom I recently saw his equally enthralling Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Similar to that movie, Let the Right One In had a very deliberate pace, allowing the audience to revel in the lyrical cinematography, wonderful characters, and mesmerizing moments of silence that express so much.
It's very much a character-driven vampire tale, with violence done stylishly offscreen or in wide shots. The bloodiness can be shocking, but it never gratuitous. So if you're looking for just blood and guts or torture porn, look somewhere else.
The writing was really interesting, as it was grounded in realism and character. It stuck with the majority of typical vampire canon, aside from the reflection rule. I didn't realize there was a thing between bloodsuckers and cats, though. Nevertheless, I totally bought the way (and consequences of) a young vamp would try to survive modern society undetected.
Comparing the two Alfredson works, the biggest difference was that this one had a ton of heart (pun unintended). I was fully invested in these two kids and their sweet and tender relationship. Their behaviors were spot on, expressing perfectly the psyche and emotions of isolated, scared youngsters. And Kåre Hedebrant and Lina Leandersson freaking knocked it out of the park.
Another great moment I greatly enjoyed was when Oskar was being bullied, and you see that the bully's cronies were just as terrified of him as Oskar was. Having said that, I thought the resolution/climax of the bullies was... inconsistent. But by then I was completely invested in these characters that it's forgivable.
After all the blood and tragedy, I just wanted to hug these two wonderfully crafted kids. Let the Right One In would've easily made it to my favorite movies of 2008, and I'm not even a horror fan. I highly recommend this somber, haunting, and sweet drama.
